Minnesota Twins fans had been clinging to hope that Joe Ryan’s shoulder injury might not sideline him for as long as initially feared, but a second opinion has confirmed their worst fears.
Ryan was pulled early from his start against the Chicago Cubs, and subsequent team reports revealed he had suffered a Grade 2 teres major strain. This led the Twins to place him on the 15-day injured list (IL), but the possibility that he miss the rest of the season prompted the team to seek a second opinion.
Despite some confusion caused by a poorly worded report, which reportedly drew laughter in the Twins’ clubhouse, both Ryan and the team were in agreement about getting a second opinion. Minnesota supported Ryan’s decision to consult with Dr. Neal ElAttrache in California, hoping for a more favorable prognosis.
Unfortunately, their hopes were dashed.
Joe Ryan Injury Update Confirms the Worst
The second opinion confirmed that Ryan’s injury is a severe Grade 2 muscle strain, meaning he won’t be back in the rotation anytime soon.
While the news is far from ideal, the Twins have not yet ruled Ryan out for the remainder of the season, although that remains a possibility. The timeline for his return is still uncertain, but at least everyone is now clear on the seriousness of the situation.
“He felt the same way we did about the injury, being a Grade 2 teres major strain of his shoulder,” Twins trainer Nick Paparesta said. “Joe is going to be down for a period of time that we discussed earlier, probably weeks, and we’ll reassess him at that point. You don’t want to say the season’s over at any point, so we’ll wait and see how things go once we get a chance to look at him again.”
The big question now is how long Ryan will be out. The vague timeline of “weeks-to-months” isn’t exactly reassuring, especially with the Twins in a tight race for the AL Central title. While the team has managed to cover for Ryan’s absence with top pitching prospects David Festa and Zebby Matthews, who have performed admirably under pressure, the situation remains tense.
Getting Ryan back to full health, rather than rushing him, is the top priority. As the Twins continue to monitor their standings and magic number, all eyes will also be on Ryan’s recovery, with the hope that he might return before the postseason.
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